The Milk Man Delivers!
Michael Schmidt has won a 16 year fight with the government over his right to sell raw milk from his farm-gate.
In a Newmarket court Thursday morning — the Durham area farmer was found not guilty of 19 charges related to selling unpasteurized milk.
Schmidt says there were plenty of supporters at the courthouse today including some from the U-S where farmers are also in a fight to sell goods right off the farm.
He defended himself last year against the charges for dispensing milk straight from the cow.
150 people paid some 300 dollars each for a share of one of his cows and then two dollars per litre for the milk.
The MNR raided his farm in November of 2006 and charges were laid.
While raw milk is legal to drink, it’s illegal to sell in Canada — health officials consider it a health hazard.
At trial, Schmidt argued that government officials and food scientists cannot guarantee the safety of any food, and suggested informed consumers should be able to buy raw milk.
In court Thursday — the judge read a two hour decision that cleared the raw milk farmer of all charges.
Schmidt says it is legal to sell his milk off the farm and he expects more people will now take advantage of it.